Blackhawks Limp Into Boston on Halloween — Bruins Ready to Feast

The Blackhawks roll into TD Garden on Halloween night, and the only thing scarier than their costume is their road form. Chicago's rebuild continues to sputter along, and cross-country trips to face Original Six heavyweights rarely end well for teams still figuring out their identity. Boston, meanwhile, has turned the Garden into a fortress early this season, feeding off a raucous home crowd and a defensive structure that makes life miserable for offensively challenged visitors.

Connor Bedard remains the lone bright spot for the Hawks, but one generational talent can only carry so much water when the supporting cast struggles to generate consistent secondary scoring. Chicago's defensive gaps get exposed against disciplined, veteran-laden teams, and the Bruins check every box in that department. Boston's depth lines grind opponents down, their power play capitalizes on mistakes, and Jeremy Swayman has been sharp between the pipes.

The Bruins should control pace and territory here, turning this into a possession clinic. Chicago might hang around for a period, but Boston's home-ice advantage and structural superiority should wear them down. Expect the Bruins to pull away in the second half and cover a modest spread. DarkHorse hasn't weighed in yet, but this one smells like a comfortable Boston victory — trick-or-treat, Chicago's getting neither.